Multi-zone heated hair appliance

ABSTRACT

The multi-zone heated hair appliance disclosed herein allows for styling of hair utilizing multiple different heating temperature levels without the need for repeated cool down or heat up periods when a different temperature is desired for a particular use during a styling session. More particularly, a heated member of the appliance is provided in which different heated temperature zones are provided. The multiple temperature zones may be simultaneously heated up to different temperatures. Thus, when a user desires a particular temperature for a particular styling technique the desired temperature is readily available by applying the hair to the desired temperature zone. In this manner multiple different styling temperatures are readily available without the need for waiting for the appliance to heat up or cool down.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 61/411,144 filed Nov. 8, 2010; the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The techniques disclosed herein relate to heated hair styling appliances, and in exemplary embodiments relate to hair curling or hair straightening appliances.

BACKGROUND

A wide variety of hair appliances may be utilized to curl or straighten hair. Many of such appliances have an elongated heated barrel or elongated heated flat iron surface. Many of such devices have a single temperature setting. While, a single temperature setting is sufficient for some hair styling users, such a single temperature setting limits the styling techniques that the appliance may be used for. Other appliances may have multiple heating temperature settings. Such multiple temperature settings are useful for a variety of reasons. For example, to achieve a desired style different temperature settings may be needed depending upon the fineness or coarseness of the user's hair. Furthermore, even for a given type of hair it may be desirable to utilize different heating temperature settings to achieve a different tightness of curl or amount of straightening in order to style different portions of the user's hair differently. Known curling irons or straighteners that utilize different temperature settings typically provide a switch or other temperature setting to adjust the entire hair appliance barrel or iron to, for example, a high or low heat temperature setting. Practically, utilizing multiple settings in one styling sessions with such appliances is time consuming because when switching from one setting to the next an extended cool down or heat up period is needed in order to allow the appliance to reach the new temperature setting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The multi-zone heated hair appliance disclosed herein advantageously allows for styling of hair utilizing multiple different temperature levels for heating hair above an ambient room temperature without the need for repeated cool down or heat up periods when a different temperature is desired for a particular use during a styling session. More particularly, an elongated portion of the appliance is provided in which different heated temperature zones are provided. The multiple temperature zones may be simultaneously heated up to different temperatures. Thus, when a user desires a particular heating temperature for a particular styling technique the desired temperature is readily available by applying the hair to the desired temperature zone. In this manner multiple different styling heating temperatures are readily available without the need for waiting for the appliance to heat up or cool down. For example, a curling iron may be provided with two, three, four or even more different heated temperature zones along the elongated heated curling barrel. Similarly a hair straightener may be provided with two, three, four or even more different heated temperature zones along the elongated heating elements of a flat iron appliance. In one embodiment the zones may be hotter the closer the zone is to the handle, in another embodiment the zones may be cooler the closer the zone is to the handle or in yet other embodiments other heating patterns may be utilized or the heating level of each zone may be user selectable.

In one embodiment, a hair styling appliance is provided. The hair styling appliance may include a heating surface; a first hair styling zone of the heating surface, the first hair styling zone being capable of being heated to at least a first temperature; and a second hair styling zone of the heating surface, the second hair styling zone being capable of being heated to at least a second temperature, the first and second temperatures being different. The hair styling appliance may be configured so that simultaneously the first hair styling zone may be heated to the first temperature and the second hair styling zone may be heated to the second temperature.

In another embodiment, a method of operating a hair styling appliance is provided. The method may include providing an elongated heating surface; providing a first hair styling zone of the elongated heating surface; providing a second hair styling zone of the elongated heating surface; and simultaneously providing different temperatures at the first hair styling zone and the second hair styling zone so that different hair styling temperatures may be available on the hair styling appliance without the need for heating or cooling period of time between application of the different hair styling temperatures.

In yet another embodiment an electric curling iron hair styling appliance configured for styling hair is provided. The electric curling iron hair styling appliance may include an elongated barrel heating surface. Further provided are a first heating zone, the first heating zone capable of being set to multiple temperature levels; a second heating zone, the second heating zone capable of being set to multiple temperature levels; and a third heating zone, the third heating zone capable of being set to multiple temperature levels. In addition one or more switches may be located on the electric curling iron hair styling appliance, the one or more switches provided independent temperature selection for each of the first, second, and third heating zones.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary hair appliance utilizing the techniques disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary hair appliance utilizing the techniques disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary hair appliance utilizing the techniques disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary hair appliance having multiple heating zones to allow different heat treatments to be efficiently applied during a hair styling session is shown as hair appliance 100 in FIGS. 1-3. The hair appliance is shown in the figures as an exemplary curling iron, however, it will be recognized that the multi-zone heating techniques described herein may be utilized with other curling irons, hair straighteners, flat irons and other hair appliances. Thus, though described herein with respect to heating zones along a curling iron barrel heating element, the concepts described herein may be applied to heating zones of other heating elements of hair appliances, such as for example flat iron heating elements and other types of heated curling elements or straightening elements. As shown in the figures, the hair appliance includes a handle 102, an electrical supply cord 106, on/off switch 120 and an elongated member 104 which is to be heated. In the example shown, the elongated member is a barrel member however other elongated structures may alternatively be utilized such as elongated members of hair straighteners and flat irons. The elongated member 104 is divided into multiple heating zones 108, 110 and 112. As shown in the figures, the heating zones may be cylindrical heating zones wrapping around the curling iron barrel. An end cap 114 is also provided. Each of the heating zones 108, 110, and 112 may be heated to different temperatures, such as for example, as described above. In the example shown in the figures, separate temperature control switches are provide for each heating zone through the use of temperature dials 122, 124, and 126 which may be turned (or “dialed”) to the desired temperature setting (or even “off”) for selecting the amount of heat to be applied to the heating zones 108, 110 and 112 respectively. The curling iron may also include any of a variety of other features as known in the hair appliance art. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 a flipper 116 may be utilized. As shown, the flipper 116 is in a closed position. A flipper actuator portion 118 may be pressed downward to rotate the flipper 116 upward as is known in the art so that hair may be placed along the barrel and then the flipper closed to hold the hair in place. As shown in the figures, the flipper 116 extends along the zone 108 portion of the elongated member 104. However, it will be recognized that flipper 116 may be made to extend the full length of the elongated member 104 thus allowing its use in conjunction with any of the various heating zones. A stand 130 is also provided so that the elongated member may be held up in the air when the hair appliance is on.

In this manner, selectable temperature controls are provided for the internal heating mechanism of the heating appliance so that varying temperatures may be applied to the various zones of the elongated member 104. The hair appliance may be configured to have a single internal heating element that spans the elongated member, with the temperature controls capable of adjusting the amount of heat emitted along the length of the elongated member 104. Alternatively, separate heating elements may be provided for each heating zone and thus each temperature control operates a separate heating element.

Internal heating structures(s) may be located within the within the elongated member 104 as is well known in the art. For example, the internal heater of the appliance of FIGS. 1-3 may be a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) ceramic heating element. A wide range of other heating elements may also be utilized with the disclosed multi-zone heating techniques including, for example, other ceramic heaters and resistive mica heaters. It will be recognized, however, that the techniques described herein are useful with a wide range of heater structures and the techniques are not limited to the those explicitly described. Thus, the concepts described herein may be utilized independent of any particular type of heater structure utilized.

It will be recognized that the concepts described herein may be utilized with a wide range of varying hair appliances. For example, the concept of a hair appliance having multiple heating zones to provide a differing heat transfer to accomplish differing hair styling techniques may be accomplished in any of variety of manners. For example, the multi-zone concept may be utilized in any of a variety of styling appliances, such as, for example hair curling irons and straighteners. In addition, it will be noted that known curling iron and straightener techniques include a wide range of types of appliances having a wide range of other features related to handles, switches, shields, flippers, stands, etc. The multi-zone heating concepts described herein are therefore not limited to the exemplary details provided herein for such other features but may be utilized with any other curling iron techniques and structures. Thus, it is recognized that the structural elements of these other features are merely exemplary and not limiting as to the scope of the use of the multi-zone heating appliance shown herein.

The multi-zone heated hair appliance disclosed herein advantageously allows for styling of hair utilizing multiple different heating temperature levels without the need for repeated cool down or heat up periods when a different temperature is desired for a particular use during a styling session. More particularly, an elongated portion of the appliance is provided in which different heated temperature zones are provided to impart heat above the ambient room temperature surrounding the hair appliance. The multiple temperature zones may be simultaneously heated up to different temperatures. Thus, when a user desires a particular temperature for a particular styling technique the desired temperature is readily available by applying the hair to the desired temperature zone. In this manner multiple different styling temperatures are readily available without the need for waiting for the appliance to heat up or cool down. For example, a curling iron may be provided with two, three, four or even more different temperature zones along the elongated heated curling barrel. Similarly a hair straightener may be provided with two, three, four or even more different temperature zones along the elongated heating elements of a flat iron appliance. In one embodiment the zones may be hotter the closer the zone is to the handle, in another embodiment the zones may be cooler the zone is to the handle or in yet other embodiments other heating patterns may be utilized or the temperature of each zone may be user selectable.

In one embodiment, the temperature settings of each zone may be preset, for example one portion of the elongated heated appliance may be “high heat”, another portion “medium heat” and yet another portion “low heat.” The zones may thus each heat to a desired temperature setting automatically based upon a single on/off setting of the appliance. In another embodiment such as shown in FIGS. 1-3, multiple temperature zones may be individually controlled and set to a desired temperature by a user. Thus, for example, multiple temperature zones may be provided each having a temperature control mechanism that allows for multiple heating temperature choices for each zone. For example, in one embodiment three different temperatures zones may be provided along the barrel of a curling iron. Each of the three temperature zones may then be individually controlled to allow the user to select the desired temperature setting for the three zones. In one embodiment the zones may have preset temperature choice settings (for example, but not limited to, selecting high, medium or low temperatures). Alternatively, the temperature control of each heating zone may be variable between a high point and low point to allow a user even greater flexibility. In yet another embodiment, one option for a temperature zone setting may even be an “off” temperature setting in which the particular zone is not heated.

In the manner described above, the hair appliance may be advantageously used during a hair styling session to allow a user greater flexibility in styling options in a more timely and efficient manner. Thus, a user may selectively use one or more of a variety of different hair treatment techniques merely by moving the hair that is being styled to the appropriate desired heating zone. In this manner, for example, certain portions of the hair may be curled under a high heat condition by wrapping the hair around the high heat zone and then immediately after such action the user may curl other portions of the high with low heat (to achieve a different desired styling effect) by wrapping the hair around the low heat zone. Advantageously, the user does not have to wait for heat-up or cool-down to occur to obtain the different desired temperature.

Further modifications and alternative embodiments of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. It will be recognized, therefore, that the present invention is not limited by these example arrangements. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herein shown and described are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Various changes may be made in the implementations and architectures. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. 

1. A hair styling appliance comprising: a heating surface; a first hair styling zone of the heating surface, the first hair styling zone being capable of being heated to at least a first temperature; and a second hair styling zone of the heating surface, the second hair styling zone being capable of being heated to at least a second temperature, the first and second temperatures being different, 1 wherein the hair styling appliance is configured so that simultaneously the first hair styling zone may be heated to the first temperature and the second hair styling zone may be heated to the second temperature.
 2. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, further comprising a third hair styling zone of the heating surface, the third hair capable of being heated to at least a third temperature.
 3. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein the first hair styling zone of the heating surface and the second hair styling zone of the heating surface are each capable of being heated to a plurality of user selectable temperatures.
 4. The hair styling appliance of claim 3, wherein the plurality of temperatures are pre-set temperatures.
 5. The hair styling appliance of claim 3, wherein the plurality of temperatures are variable temperatures.
 6. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, further comprising separate temperature control switches for each of the first hair styling zone of the heating surface and the second hair styling zone of the heating surface.
 7. A method of operating a hair styling appliance comprising: providing an elongated heating surface; providing a first hair styling zone of the elongated heating surface; providing a second hair styling zone of the elongated heating surface; simultaneously providing different temperatures at the first hair styling zone and the second hair styling zone so that different hair styling temperatures may be available on the hair styling appliance without the need for heating or cooling period of time between application of the different hair styling temperatures.
 8. The method of claim 7, the hair styling appliance being a curling iron.
 9. The method of claim 7, the hair styling appliance being a hair straightener.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the first hair styling zone and the second hair styling zone may be user selectably set to a plurality of temperatures.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of temperatures are at least a pre-set high temperature and a pre-set low temperature.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of temperatures are variable temperatures.
 13. An electric curling iron hair styling appliance configured for styling hair, comprising: an elongated barrel heating surface; a first heating zone, the first heating zone capable of being set to multiple temperature levels; a second heating zone, the second heating zone capable of being set to multiple temperature levels; a third heating zone, the third heating zone capable of being set to multiple temperature levels; and one or more switches located on the electric curling iron hair styling appliance, the one or more switches providing independent temperature selection for each of the first, second, and third heating zones.
 14. The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of claim 13, wherein the multiple temperature levels of each of the first, second and third heating zones are each pre-set temperature levels.
 15. The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of claim 14, the one or more switches providing a high temperature, medium temperature and a low temperature for each of the first, second and third heating zones.
 16. The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of claim 13, the one or more switches providing variable temperature control between a high temperature and a low temperature for each of the first, second and third heating zones.
 17. The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of claim 13, each of the first, second and third heating zones being cylindrical heating zones.
 18. The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of claim 17, the one or more switches providing at least a pre-set high temperature setting and a pre-set low temperature setting for each of the first, second and third heating zones.
 19. The electric curling iron hair styling appliance of claim 17, the one or more switches providing variable temperature control between a high temperature and a low temperature for each of the first, second and third heating zones. 